Brighton Kemptown councillor Bharti Gajjar and Queen’s Park councillor Chandni Mistry were kicked out of the party after an investigation into claims that they lived hundreds of miles from Brighton and Hove.
To be a councillor, you need to be registered to vote in the area or have lived, worked or owned property there for at least 12 months before an election.
A Labour source confirmed to The Argus that the investigation into the two councillors found that addresses used when applying for Labour Party membership were not accurate and their membership was cancelled.
Lloyd Russell-Moyle, MP for Brighton Kemptown, was one of the assentors which enabled Cllr Gajjar’s nomination for the local election in May.
But Mr Russell-Moyle told The Argus that inconsistencies were first flagged when one of the councillors changed their address to one outside of the city.
He said: “At an initial meeting, we weren’t given clear answers to some pretty basic questions.
“The chief whip of the council and I then took the view to escalate this to the regional Labour Party.
“They conducted a more thorough investigation that uncovered many more inconsistencies and, at that point, they were asked to respond to formal allegations.
“The party deemed that they didn’t adequately respond and so they’ve been kicked out.
“Based off the information that’s come to light since September, I’ve written to the police to ask for an investigation for fraud.
“I also asked the council to investigate statements they made to the council register of interests.”
Councillors ‘campaigned to be MPs hundreds of miles away’
It comes as campaign websites have emerged for both councillors as they stood for two constituencies in the north of England.
One website states that Bharti Gajjar was standing to be the MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale.
Morecambe, in Lancashire, is more than 250 miles away from Brighton.
A screenshot from Bharti Gajjar’s campaign website (Image: Supplied)
The website features pictures of her standing outside the Pepper Pot in Brighton, as well as with deputy leader of Brighton and Hove City Council Gill Williams.
It reads: “With an authentic connection; this is where I live and I have even studied at here [sic] – hence, I have a vested interest in the success of this iconic constituency.
“Throughout my life, Morecambe and Lunesdale have given me a lot, treated me with dignity, compassion and has provided meaningful opportunities. Now I’m giving back.
“I feel compelled to be a Labour candidate for Morecambe and Lunesdale because this city holds my heart.
“From my formative years in its vibrant neighbourhoods to witnessing its challenges and triumphs, Morecambe and Lunesdale has shaped my values and aspirations.”
The website also features an endorsement from Cllr Mistry.
A screenshot from Chandni Mistry’s campaign website (Image: Supplied)
The Argus has seen screenshots of a second website, purportedly a campaign site for Chandni Mistry, which almost exactly mirrors the text from Cllr Gajjar’s website.
The website reads: “Throughout my life, this constituency has given me a lot, treated me with dignity, compassion and has provided meaningful opportunities. Now I’m giving back.
“I feel compelled to be a Labour candidate because this city holds my heart.
“From my formative years in its vibrant neighbourhoods to witnessing its challenges and triumphs, this constituency has shaped my values and aspirations.”
It is alleged that Cllr Mistry had been running for Leicester East, some 130 miles away from Brighton.
However, The Argus understands the website was later updated to remove reference to the constituency.
Labour ‘will cooperate with any police enquiries’
Labour’s candidates for the local elections were selected by the regional party following scandals which saw a number of councillors suspended or quit the party over allegations of anti-Semitism.
A spokesman for the Labour Party said that the party “takes all complaints seriously and they are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures and any appropriate action is taken”.
He added: “In this case, the party has decided to cancel the membership of Bharti Gajjar and Chandni Mistry.”
A Labour source said it understood the matter has been referred to the police and “will cooperate with any police enquiries”.
The councillors continue to sit on Brighton and Hove City Council as independents, but have faced calls from all four political groups on the council to stand down.
Both of the councillors were approached for comment.
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